Angelonia plant named ‘DANGELONI4’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Angelonia  cultivar named ‘DANGELONI4’ is disclosed, characterized by having small, pure white flowers, a compact, upright plant habit and early, continuous flowering. The new variety is a  Angelonia,  normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Angelonia angustifolia.

Variety denomination: ‘DANGELONI4’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program under the direction of the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, a citizen of Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce plants of Angelonia angustifolia with compact habits. The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referred to as Angelonia angustifolia ‘AL-6-240.’ The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referred to as Angelonia angustifolia ‘AL-Z-64.’ The new variety was discovered on March 2006 the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from that crossing, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DANGELONI4’ by vegetative cuttings was performed at a commercial greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DANGELONI4’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DANGELONI4’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DANGELONI4’ as a new and distinct Angelonia cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact plant habit.     -   2. Small flowers compared to other commercial Angelonia         varieties.     -   3. Bright white flower color.     -   4. Very upright habit.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANGELONI4’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Angelonia angustifolia ‘AL-6-240,’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANGELONI4’ are more compact.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANGELONI4’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, Angelonia angustifolia ‘AL-Z-64’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANGELONI4’ have smaller, pure white flowers, whereas the pollen parent has larger, blue and white flowers.

The new variety is the best compared to the commercial variety, ‘Serena White,’ a seed produced variety. ‘DANGELONI4’ is similar to ‘Serena White’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, ‘DANGELONI4’ is more compact and has smaller flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DANGELONI4’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 12 cm pot. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 3 months from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of a typical bloom of ‘DANGELONI4.’

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DANGELONI4’ plants grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 20° C. to 28° C. The greenhouse is un-shaded, giving bright, normal sunlight conditions. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Angelonia angustifolia cultivar     ‘DANGELONI4.’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 14 days at approximately 25° C. -   Root description: Fine, densely fibrous. -   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 35 days at 25° C.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright, erect annual. -   Pot size of plant described: 10 cm. -   Height:     -   -   To top of foliage.—Approximately 16 cm.         -   To top of racemose.—Approximately 31 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 14 cm. -   Growth rate: Rapid. -   Branching characteristics: Well-branched, all branches occurring at     an acute angle, forming an upright plant shape. -   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 16 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.2 cm. -   Quantity of lateral branches: Numerous, more than 10. -   Stem:     -   -   Form.—Round in cross-section.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144 B.         -   Texture.—Smooth. -   Internode length: Approximately 0.2 cm. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 45 days from a rooted cutting.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 32 per main branch.         -   Average length.—Approximately 4 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 0.7 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Linear.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Matte.         -   Pubescence.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 143A. Young             foliage under side: Near RHS Green 143C. Mature foliage             upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side:             Near RHS Green 137C.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Green 137A. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 137C.         -   Petiole.—Not Present.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Freely flowering under outdoors growing     conditions with substantially continuous blooming from spring     through autumn. Year round in greenhouse environment, or under warm     conditions and high sunlight. Begins flowering approximately 5 weeks     after planting a rooted cutting. -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Individual flowers are     typical scrophulariaceae shape, 2-lipped, 5-petaled solitary     flowers, fused at base, occurring in the leaf axis, on a terminal     raceme. -   Rate of flower opening: 5 to 10 days from bud to fully opened     flower. -   Flower longevity on plant: Individual flowers last 10 days on the     plant. Each spike lasts approximately 2 weeks with flowers. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 2 cm.         -   Length.—Approximately 2 cm. -   Petals:     -   -   Length.—1 cm.         -   Diameter.—1 cm.         -   Quantity.—5.         -   Texture.—Papillose.         -   Apex.—Obtuse. -   Color:     -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: Pure white, not on RHS chart.             Lower surface: Pure white, not on RHS chart.         -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Pure white, not on RHS chart.             Lower surface: Pure white, not on RHS chart. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Orbicular.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow 2C. -   Sepals:     -   -   Sepals.—         -   Quantity per flower.—5, fused at base.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—Near RHS Green 143A. -   Peduncle: None, verticillasters. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C. -   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—4, occurring in pairs.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.1 cm. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Ovoid.         -   Length.—Approximately 1 mm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow 2C.         -   Pollen.—Color: Near RHS Greyed-Yellow 161A. Quantity:             Moderate. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Style.—Length: Approximately 0.15 cm. Color: Pure white.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Color: Pure white, not on RHS chart.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed and not commercially important. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     pathogens and pests common to Angelonia have been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures     between 8 to 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Angelonia plant named ‘DANGELONI4’ as herein illustrated and described. 